Volcanoes-Hurricanes still in the balance on final day

The Windward Islands Volcanoes have 10 wickets in hand and 231 runs to get on the final day of their West Indies Championship game against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Windsor Park in Dominica.

Honours have remained even throughout this game with the Volcanoes enjoying a slightly better time with the ball in their second innings.

Sent into bat, the Hurricanes had posted 271 all out, with the Volcanoes replying with 230, a deficit of 41 runs. Every one of those runs were needed when the Hurricanes batted again, as they were dismissed on Saturday for just 199, a lead of 240, which, while no walkover, is certainly gettable.

In the Hurricanes first innings, their total was made possible by half centuries from Montcin Hodge, 61, and Keacy Carty, 54, while starts from Jahmar Hamilton, 26, Rahkeem Cornwall, 21, and Quinton Boatswain, 21 not out added to the tally.

Ray Jordan’s 4-47, Larry Edward’s 4-73, and Josh Thomas’ 2-62 went a long way toward making sure the Volcanoes were not batted out of the game.

The Volcanoes then had to put in a shift to get close enough to the Hurricanes total to make a game of the encounter and 47 from veteran opener Devon Smith, 41 from Sunil Ambris, and a half century from Alick Athanaze, 53, took them close.

Sheno Berridge, 4-42, and Cornwall, 4-48, did not make things easy.

The Leewards did not bat well when they were given a second go at things.

Firstly, they scored more slowly than in the first innings and secondly, they didn’t score many, with Devon Thomas’ 43 and Jahmar Hamilton’s 40, the best it would get.

The Volcanoes are now 10 without loss, Smith on six and Rolando Cato on four.

Paul-Andre is the Managing Editor at SportsMax.tv. He comes to the role with almost 20 years of experience as journalist. That experience includes all facets of media. He began as a sports Journalist in 2001, quickly moving into radio, where he was an editor before becoming a news editor and then an entertainment editor with one of the biggest media houses in the Caribbean.

Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. Keith Mitchell has insisted that a change of structure should be the primary focus of the next Cricket West Indies (CWI) boss, following the announcement of a challenge to incumbent president Dave Cameron.

After four terms in charge of the regional body, Cameron will face a challenge from former Windies team manager Ricky Skerritt, when the organisation goes to the polls next month.

Mitchell, who has at times found himself in an adversarial relationship with regional cricket’s leadership team in recent years, however, believes very little will be different unless the new leader is willing to focus on decades-long structural deficiencies.

“30-50 years ago Governments were operating one way in terms of how they governed countries. They made you believe they could solve all your problems, ‘just vote for me’. That has changed dramatically, businesses had to change over the years and be more transparent,” Mitchell told the SportsMax Zone.

“Trade Unions had to also recognize that it was not about getting increases in salary but also getting productivity, it’s a competitive world. Similarly, sporting bodies cannot operate a 19 century, 20th-century system in the 21st century,” he added.

A 2015 CARICOM-commissioned Governance Report – authored by prominent regional academic and UWI Cave Hill principal Professor Eudine Barriteau – had called for the “immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and the appointment of an Interim Board.”

“The chop and change of presidents in my view is not going to solve the problems that are plaguing West Indies cricket. The attitude and structure that we have in place and the transparency and accountability has to be a fundamental issue also.”